Western Springs Woman Helps Children Fighting Cancer

Western Springs resident Bonnie Krozel, pictured at her home, displays her donation of toys which will benefit the Treasure Chest Foundation and help comfort young cancer patients nationwide.

Western Springs resident Bonnie Krozel, pictured at her home, displays her donation of toys which will benefit the Treasure Chest Foundation and help comfort young cancer patients nationwide. (Posted By Colleen Kisel, Community Contributor)

Posted By Colleen Kisel, Community Contributor

In the spirit of giving, Western Springs resident Bonnie Krozel is supporting children fighting cancer by donating toys to benefit the Pediatric Oncology Treasure Chest Foundation (POTCF), an Orland Park-based, non-profit organization that provides toys and gift cards to children and teens diagnosed with cancer nationwide.

The origin of Bonnie’s involvement with the Treasure Chest Foundation can be traced back to 2010, when she first learned about the Foundation at her church. Since that day Bonnie has shopped month after month at nearby stores, convincing managers and clerks to discount her purchases to benefit children fighting cancer. It takes a van to pick up her donation, and Bonnie typically collects so many toys there is often very little room to see out the windows of the vehicle. Bonnie said, “I believe I’m the luckiest person because I have great faith, a wonderful family and friends, and this is how I say thank you to God for my wonderful blessings. Like the song says, ‘Make someone happy, make just one someone happy.’”

It’s clear that Bonnie has accomplished that and then some, and that’s good news for thousands of brave young cancer patients served by the Treasure Chest Foundation.

The POTCF’s unique services impact more than 9,000 young cancer patients each month in 46 hospitals across 16 states nationwide and the District of Columbia. Colleen Kisel founded the organization in 1996 after her then seven-year-old son Martin had been diagnosed with leukemia in 1993. Ms. Kisel discovered that giving her son a toy after each procedure provided a calming distraction from his pain, noting that when children are diagnosed with cancer their world soon becomes filled with doctors, nurses, chemotherapy drugs, surgeries and seemingly endless painful procedures. Martin will celebrate his 21st anniversary of remission from the disease in early 2014.

Ms. Kisel expressed her profound appreciation, saying, “The Treasure Chest Foundation is especially grateful for Bonnie’s tremendous toy donations over the years. Bonnie is so clever and she always manages to convince the proprietors to lower their prices. We are so blessed to have her support.”

If you would like further information about the Treasure Chest Foundation, please contact Colleen Kisel at 708-687-TOYS (8697) or visit the Foundation’s web site at www.treasurechest.org.